Less religious, but we still pray

While having preserved so many historic buildings like shrines & temples across Japan, we're becoming less religious. 

Or should I say it other way around? Despite our recent irreligiousness, we're still working hard to maintain those old buildings here and there. 

日本中あちこちで古い神社仏閣を保存してきた一方で、より無宗教になっている私達日本人。（宗教離れは世界の若者の間でも顕著）むしろ逆に、これだけ無宗教に傾いているにも関わらず、そういった歴史的な建造物を頑張って守っている、と言えるのかもしれません。

Furthermore, there seems some neighborhoods trying to revive their once-lost local guardians as a part of redevelopment projects currently taking place everywhere in our major cities.

さらに言うと、近年続いている再開発をきっかけに、失われた地域の守り神を復活させようとしている自治体もあるようです。

The super mini shrine in the first half of this video might be one of them. This is uniquely located in between the newly built buildings of Nihonbashi, the office district of Tokyo. 

下のビデオ前半に出てくるのは、日本橋の新しいビル・マンションに挟まれる形で作られた小さな神社。モダンなビルに囲まれた中でいきなり現れる鳥居が素敵だなぁ、と感じます！

What you see in the latter half are four photos from Shusse Inari Shrine, which is found in the backyard space of an apartment building in the same area.

ビデオ後半に写真で紹介しているのは、知る人ぞ知る「秘境的神社」、出世稲荷神社。こちらも日本橋にあるのですが、場所はなんとマンション一階の駐輪所を抜けたバックヤード。旗が無いと絶対に気付かない立地です。

The jizo place filmed in this video, Tsukuda Tendai Jizo-son, has been treasured by local residents of Tsukishima for years. 

How did I learn that? Just give it a try. The weird but great atmosphere out there is totally hard to ignore when you actually see it in person.

こちらの動画は月島・佃にある佃天台地蔵尊から。私はここの雰囲気が本当に大好きなんです。

The aisle leading to its main part has just shoulder width (and it's also entrance to neighbors' house!), and an old tree in the premise is carefully protected with respect.

What I felt there was simply people's love, respect & gratitude rather than religiousness.

本殿？に続く肩幅ほどしかない通路に、敷地内でしっかりと守られている太い木。まさに地元の方々の愛と敬意と感謝が溢れ出ている空間だと思います。